13.05.2015, 10:30
| Media release
Lausanne – As the first European electricity company, Alpiq has received the ISO 55'001 certification for the hydroelectric power plant management. It demonstrates to the Swiss hydropower specialist an efficient management of hydroelectric power plants and extensive expertise in this area.
Alpiq has received the ISO 55'001:2014 certification for its hydroelectric plant management. This certification attests the skills and expertise of the company in the field of managing hydroelectric power plants. Alpiq is the first electricity company in Europe and the first company in Switzerland to obtain the ISO 55'001 certification.
In Switzerland, Alpiq manages twelve of most powerful hydroelectric power plants in the country, such as Grande Dixence (2,000 MW) and Emosson (390 MW). This certification is a confirmation for the shareholder partners who own these facilities that high-quality management and access to the best international practices in terms of asset management are applied. This certification is also an important step in the management by Alpiq of the pumped storage power plant in Nant de Drance (900 MW), which will be operational by the end of 2018.
The low wholesale prices put pressure on hydropower. Therefore, it is essential for Alpiq to further strengthen its management means to ensure that its production plants remain a reliable source of value creation for all players in the chain. The company model of asset management aims at optimising the life cycle of hydroelectric plants by taking into account the performance parameters, cost management, profitability and risk. Alpiq has set itself the goal of building, developing and maintaining hydroelectric power plants that are safe and with sustainable performance, at the lowest possible price. For Alpiq it is also essential to meeting all regulatory and environmental requirements relating to the operation without compromising their security.
The scope of the ISO 55001 standard introduced in 2014 is to gather the best available practices in industrial assets management. Oxand, a company specialising in creating value through assets and HYDRO Exploitation SA, a company in charge of the maintenance of hydroelectric power plants managed by Alpiq, actively participated in the establishment of these new management tools. The company Bureau Veritas, an internationally recognised organisation, conducted the certification.